Story: All Darcy Could DoAuthor: Maria Hope (hopefulro)Story URL: Story LinkWord count: 5,100Rating: AllSummary: In this what-if, Darcy realizes before he asks that Elizabeth Bennet is likely to turn down his proposal. His relatives would probably tell him that it’s all for the best.

Gioia’s Rec:
This story packed quite a punch for such a short piece! I generally stick to rec’ing longer stories, but this fic contained so much possibility and was such a unique yet utterly logical take on how things could’ve occurred, that I couldn’t help but love it. It made such sense! As the author explains Darcy’s POV, it is very easy to imagine our canon hero receiving this epiphany and then seeing no other recourse before him but that which Maria Hope lays out, even though (or perhaps because) such behavior is quite in contrast to that which Elizabeth had perceived as characteristic of him up this point. But aside from the logic, what I really adore is how tender-hearted and open Darcy is in this story. His emotions are so very tangible, and it is deeply touching to see his feelings so raw. And finally, I appreciated the conversations between Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam. I’m afraid that my enjoyment of fanon means that it’s easy to deceive myself about how the Colonel, and indeed all of Darcy’s family, likely viewed marriage in their circles, based on the attitudes of that era. The Colonel’s frank discussions added a great touch of realism to this fic.

My only critique: There was one aspect of Elizabeth’s canon rejection at Hunsford which wasn’t addressed directly in this AU take of how events might’ve gone, however I think it’s easy to see assume that it is settled either indirectly, or directly but “off-camera.”

It looks as if the story has been removed! I’m completely kerflumuxed. I can’t find any trace of it. I’ll leave this rec up for now in the hope that someone else may be able to locate it. I’m so very sorry!

That looks like it! I need to re-read it in full to be certain (I’ve just skimmed it), but I believe that is it! Thank you for your sleuthing! I’ll update the link as soon as I’ve re-read the fic in full to verify it’s the same one, and not merely a similar fic based on the same premise or challenge. Grazie mille!